Do you prefer to contend with the smell of stool or the smell of Glade?

[RNdynamic]

Hospitals employees have many different ways of combating offensive odors produced by patients' bodies. The odors may be due to infectious diarrhea, necrotic infections, or excessive body fat. We've all been in that situation many times, and we've all dealt with it one way or another, whether it be through machines which suck in the odor and expel neutral smelling air into the room, or potpourri, peppermint spirits that you can sprinkle about, essential oils, or chemical products that you can spray such as Glade.

However, when do these measures become offensive to use? One time I was washing up an incontinent patient who had c-diff and although it smelled rather gross, the situation was worsened when another nurse walked over to the doorway and started spraying Glade into the room as I was washing up. Because of that, I had to contend with an extremely unpleasant smelling combination of cinnamon and ****. I would have rather just dealt with the stool.

What is your experience in these matters? Does your hospital have the machines that suck in the odor? Or do you spray or sprinkle substances around? What is your preference?

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

99.9% of air fresheners give me a massive headache instantly. I hate them, but sometimes I do wish I could open a window.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

We used to have a pine scented deodorizer to spray in our patients' rooms if there was a diarrhea or other similar incident. One day, when one of my coworkers was caring for a GI bleeder, our nursing supervisor walked into the unit and said, "OMG, it smells like someone *(&^ on a Christmas tree!"

She was right.

[Cheyenne RN,BSHS]

RNdynamic said:

The odors may be due to infectious diarrhea, necrotic infections, or excessive body fat.

What does excessive body fat smell like? Or is it the lack of hygiene that may smell? I have some slender patients that smell like a skunks butt!

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Which is most therapeutic?

[Nurse Leigh]

ThePrincessBride said:

Which is most therapeutic?

Saw this response and just *knew* who the OP had to be...

I've not seen it used in any facilities, but at home, I really like Zero Odor. Works well -even with the lingering odors from cat litter boxes.

[VANurse2010]

I'd rather smell either of those than perfume and hair oil.

[macawake, MSN]

Are there any parabens in Glade spray?

[enuf_already]

New idea for Glade: The stool scent collection featuring GI Bleed, C-Diff, and Fresh Flatulence.

[sara567]

The alcohol based mouthwash mixed with some water...kills all the smells. I don't find the essential oil spray we have helps with the strongest scents we encounter.

[Farawyn]

Hate fake vanilla and hate fake cinnamon (Ewwww, those holday pine cones!)

I don't mind most hospital air cleanse.

[irishicugal]

Cotton wool balls in a polystyrene denture cup with some tea tree oil sprinkled on them - kills just about any smell!